Google proposes sci-fi design for movable new headquarters

Company looks to trade concrete for buildings that can be 'moved around' as needed.

An artist's rendering of Google's plans for its new headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. Credit: Google

Google on Friday released the plans for what the company hopes will be its new headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

The company plans to redevelop four of its office space sites, designing and constructing the office buildings from scratch. It's the first time the company won't be taking over other buildings it had simply bought and moved into.

Google submitted the plans to the Mountain View City Council. The company's plans are to build light, modular structures that can be moved around as needed.

"The idea is simple," wrote David Radcliffe, Google's vice president of real estate, in a blog post. "Instead of constructing immoveable concrete buildings, we'll create lightweight block-like structures which can be moved around easily as we invest in new product areas. Our self-driving car team, for example, has very different needs when it comes to office space from our Search engineers."

Google's new sci-fi-like structures are being designed to have large translucent canopies that cover each site, controlling the indoor climate but still letting in light and air. Renderings of the plans can be seen on the company's Google+ page.

"With trees, landscaping, cafes, and bike paths weaving through these structures, we aim to blur the distinction between our buildings and nature," added Radcliffe.

While Google, and other tech titans like Facebook, have been criticized by Silicon Valley residents for causing traffic and housing congestion, the company is going to the city with plans for more construction.

"Of course, this project is about much more than just office space; it's about doing more with the local community as well," wrote Radcliffe. "So we're adding lots of bike paths and retail opportunities, like restaurants, for local businesses. We also hope to bring new life to the unique local environment, from enhancing burrowing owl habitats to widening creek beds.

"And we're committed to do everything we can to save energy," Radcliffe said. "Our recent agreement to offset our energy consumption in North Bayshore with renewable energy includes the development of this proposal."

Google, which has been based in Mountain View since 1999, is known for having a large, user-friendly campus with recharging sites for electric cars, multiple restaurants with acclaimed chefs, nap pods, and a meditation garden.